The school's ban on hijabs is being lifted

The decision came following a meeting at Icknield High School in Luton on Tuesday night which lasted more than three hours.

The school's uniform policy banned all headwear in the classroom, with the exception of turbans.

The governors of the foundation school had been warned by Luton Borough Council that its ban on the headscarves - or hijab - could breach the Race Relations Act.

Icknield's school uniform policy was forced into the spotlight after a parent of a prospective Muslim pupil reported the matter to the council.

Members of the radical Islamic group Al Muhajiroun handed out leaflets outside the school, demanding that the ban be overturned.

After the governors' meeting the chairman, Geoff Lambert, said there had been a considerable debate but a lot of support for a review of the school's policy.